Speakers

Bulent Yildiz, MD

Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye

Dr. Bulent O. Yildiz is a Professor of Medicine / Endocrinology and Metabolism at Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye. His clinical and research interests involve obesity, diabetes and androgen excess disorders in women including polycystic ovary syndrome. He has published over 150 original articles, reviews and book chapters, and ranked in the top 1% of Stanford University / Elsevier science-wide author database.

Dr. Yildiz was an Executive Committee Member and Officer of the European Society of Endocrinology and Board Member of Androgen Excess and PCOS Society. He chaired ECE 2017, co-chaired ENDO 2021 and 2022, and served as the Clinical Lead for the ESE Reproductive and Developmental Endocrinology Focus Area. He is the founder and president of the EndoBridge®, a unique international educational initiative supported by several global organizations including Endocrine Society, ESE, EASD, EASO and ATA (www.endobridge.org).

His awards include the Distinguished Young Scientist Awards from Hacettepe University, Turkish Academy of Sciences, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Special Recognition Award by the European Society of Endocrinology, Walter Futterweit Clinical Research Excellence Award by the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society and the Eisenhower Fellowship for international leadership from The Eisenhower Foundation of the United States. Fellowship of Dr. Yildiz focuses on the academia-government-industry relations on research, public policy and healthcare delivery for the prevention and management of chronic diseases, specifically diabetes and obesity.

Carel le Roux

Professor Carel le Roux graduated from medical school in Pretoria South Africa, completed his specialist training in metabolic medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospitals and the Hammersmith Hospitals. He obtained his PhD from Imperial College London where he later took up a faculty position. He moved to University College Dublin for the Chair in Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine and he is now a Director of the Metabolic Medicine Group. He also holds the position of Professor of Metabolic Medicine at Ulster University and Extra-ordinary Professor of Chemical Pathology at University of Pretoria. He currently coordinates an Innovative Medicine Initiative project on obesity. He previously received the Irish Research Council Researcher of the Year award, a President of Ireland Young Researcher Award, the Irish Research Council Laureate Award, a Clinician Scientist Award from the National Institute Health Research in the UK, and a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Fellowship for his work on how the gut talks to the brain.

Colin Dayan

Professor of Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism, Cardiff University School of Medicine.
Senior Clinical Researcher, University of Oxford.
Director, Cardiff Joint Research Office.

Colin Dayan trained in medicine at University College, Oxford, and Guy’s and Charing Cross Hospitals in London, UK before obtaining a PhD in the immunology of Graves’ Disease in the Laboratory of Marc Feldmann. He then spent a year as an endocrine fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA before completing his specialist training in diabetes and endocrinology as a Lecturer in Bristol. In 2010, he was appointed to the Chair of Clinical Diabetes and Metabolism and Head of Section at Cardiff University School of Medicine and in 2020 as part-time Senior Clinical Researcher in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford.

Prof Dayan has a long-established interest in translational research in the immunopathology of type 1 diabetes promoting progress to “insulin free T1D”. He has published first-in-man clinical studies on the development of peptide immunotherapy and the use of nanoparticles in T1D as well as pioneering the use of lymph node and injection site sampling to monitor the response to therapy. Since 2015 he has been a leading member of the UKT1D-Research Consortium which has hosted more than 15 clinical trials in early T1D over 30 sites. He is currently leading on novel trial designs including the T1D Plus platform trial in Europe and Australia to rapidly test combinations of therapies. In collaboration with the Critical Path Institute, he led the TOMI consortium of 21 clinical trials to define the relationship between C-peptide preservation and clinical endpoints and build an FDA/EMA approved clinical trial simulation tool. He is now seeking to define novel endpoints in preclinical T1D as part of the EDENT1FI European programme. Prof Dayan is a committed advocate to finding ways to bring beta cell preservation and delaying the need for insulin therapy into routine clinical practice. In this regard he supported the application for regulatory approval of Tzield to the FDA in 2021 and is working with colleagues to introduce immunotherapy and population screening into the UK.

Hussain Al Saffar

Consultant Pediatric Endocrinologist
Honorary Associate Professor

Dr. Hussain Alsaffar is a highly accomplished Consultant Pediatric Endocrinologist at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman. He had his pediatric training in the UK, achieving his CCT in 2017. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (FACE).

Dr Alsaffar is a YES Group Leader for the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), he works to bridge the gap between junior and senior endocrinologists while fostering collaborative research and education.

He is a strategic leader, having served as the Head of Strategic Planning at SQUH and as the Diabetes Research Director at the Omani Diabetes Association. He is an advocate for education, Dr. Alsaffar has been an honorary lecturer at prestigious institutions such as the University of Liverpool and the University of Manchester. He is also an accredited trainer and educational supervisor, mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate medical professionals while actively contributing to curriculum development at Sultan Qaboos University. Dr. Alsaffar’s prolific academic output includes over 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on pediatric diabetes, endocrinology, and rare disorders. He has presented his work at international conferences, fostering advancements in clinical practice and research. He is a member of the Editorial Board of three international journals. Additionally, he is involved in multiple global research initiatives. Recently he achieved a master degree in Global Management from the Business school of Salford University.

Laurence Katznelson

Laurence Katznelson, MD received his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and performed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He then performed a fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and then stayed on as faculty in the Neuroendocrine Unit. Dr. Katznelson was a Professor of Neurosurgery and Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Katznelson previously served as the endocrinology fellowship Program Director at Stanford. At Stanford, he became the Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Katznelson began and served as the Medical Director of the Pituitary Center at Stanford, a national referral center for patients with pituitary disorders. In May, 2024, Dr. Katznelson left Stanford and moved to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to serve as Vice Dean, Medical Education and Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology and Metabolism). He is currently building his pituitary practice. Dr. Katznelson served on the Board of the international Pituitary Society and then as President, 2023-2024. As President, one of his main platforms was to connect clinicians internationally through committees to collaborate on patient care, education and research. In recognition of his teaching abilities, Dr. Katznelson received the H. Jack Baskin Endocrine Teaching Award, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in 2015. He received the Laureate Outstanding Educator Award, Endocrine Society in 2017. He has a long-standing research interest in education and pituitary disease, including hypopituitarism and the pathophysiology and therapy of pituitary tumors.

Maria Fleseriu

Maria Fleseriu, MD, FACE is a Professor of Medicine and Neurological Surgery, Director of the Pituitary Center at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon, USA member of the Board of Directors of the Endocrine Society and Past President of the Pituitary Society.

Dr. Fleseriu has a long-standing clinical and research interest in the pathophysiology and treatment of pituitary and adrenal disorders, has been global principal investigator in many pituitary disorders clinical trials and has authored over 270 publications in prestigious high impact journals, including novel treatments, international guidelines, consensus papers for Cushing’s, acromegaly, hypopituitarism and pituitary incidentalomas. She is a frequent plenary guest speaker at national and international meetings and has been Deputy Editor for European Journal of Endocrinology, Associate Editor for Reviews of Endocrinology and Metabolism and a member in many editorial boards, including Pituitary. Dr Fleseriu has received many national and international awards, including title of “Doctor Honors Causa” by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, and the Clinical Endocrinology Trust Award from the U.K Society of Endocrinology.

Margaret Wierman

Margaret E. Wierman MD, is a Professor of Medicine, Integrative Physiology and OBGYN at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Wierman is a translational physician scientist whose research interest has been in reproductive endocrinology and sex hormone action in women and men, and more recently in the molecular mechanisms of pituitary tumors and adrenal cancer. She directs the Pituitary and Adrenal Tumor Program at the University of Colorado. Dr. Wierman is the immediate past President of the International Society of Endocrinology and is passionate about its vision to provide endocrine science and education globally. She directs the Pre-R grant review panel for the CCTSI. Maggie directs the Program to Advance Gender Equity in the Department of Medicine and PAGE supported the midcareer women faculty leadership program. Dr. Wierman has a long track record in mentoring and pipeline development of academic clinicians and researchers. She received the Women in Endocrinology Mentor Award and the Endocrine Society Laureate Mentor Award from the Endocrine Society.

Nancy Elbarbary

Professor of Pediatrics at Faculty of Medicine, Ain -Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Doctorate degree (M.D.) Ain- Shams University 2007. Passed MBBCH and Master (M.Sc.) in pediatrics (Excellent with honors )1998 and 2003 respectively. Working now at Paediatric Diabetes Clinic which is one of the first Paediatric clinic at the Children's Hospital and Middle East since 1979 and one of the largest referral centers all over Egypt for managing children with type 1 diabetes.

Member of several professional societies, both national and international, such as International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), the Egyptian Society of Childhood Diabetes and Endocrinology (ESDEP), and Arab Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED).

Has international links to both ISPAD and ESPE. Contributed to the ISPAD E-learning Committee ; ESPE e-learning program, and participated in ISPAD Guidelines 2018 in two chapters and in the IDF-DAR Diabetes and Ramadan Practical Guidelines 2021“Management of Type 1 diabetes when fasting during Ramadan”. Also, participated in International Consortium of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Adolescence and updated chapter of ISPAD Guidelines 2022. Translated web site of Beyond type 1 diabetes supported by JDRF in Egyptian Arabic language.

Is a Steering Committee member of ASPED-ISPAD Diabetes Academy since 2016 and the head of diabetes committee and scientific research in ASPED. Invited speaker at regional meetings of professional specialty societies, international meetings and symposia.

Serves as invited reviewer in more than 30 international peer-reviewed journals. Member in the Editorial Board of more than ten international journals and a member of research and ethics committee at Ain Shams University hospital, Cairo.

Published over 60 papers in international and local periodicals and journals and supervised more than 60 thesis (both Master and MD), all were accepted. Supervised and helped in the writing of Protocol of management of DKA in Type 1 Diabetes which is made specific for Egyptian doctors treating diabetic children. Helped in writing teaching materials in my native language [Arabic] that are distributed freely and available throughout the region.

Participated as a principal investigator in trials sponsored by Diabetes associations and is involved in many other international clinical and basic research projects as country representative of Egypt in TEENs registry study, FITTER and SWEET. Received several international professional prizes, awards, grants and special recognitions from different Egyptian Academic Societies and from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology for distinguished international publications. Have been awarded in the name of Country’s president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; the First-Class Medal of Honor Award for Medical Science and State Academic Recognition Achievement.

Partha Kar

Partha Kar is the Type 1 Diabetes & Technology lead for NHS England and co-lead of the Getting it Right First Time (Diabetes) and Consultant, Diabetes & Endocrinology in Portsmouth.

In his role with NHS England-He has led the expansion of technology in Type 1 Diabetes- namely universal use of Flash Glucose/CGM; CGM in T1D pregnancy along with use of online digital self-management platforms. He has also led on working with NICE ensuring wide access to Hybrid Closed Loops (HCL) this technology (via enabling real world data collection)- and at present is leading on a 5-year implementation plan on HCL. This has made the NHS one of the pioneers globally regards access to technology in those living with Type 1 Diabetes.

His other work has involved introduction of frailty into Quality Of Framework (QoF) treatment targets, Diabulimia pilot projects in the NHS; championing “Language Matters” and helping to create an overview of Diabetes care in Primary Care Networks. Recent work has included principles of Peer support for Type 1 Diabetes as well as a Decision Support Tool for those with Type 1 Diabetes.

He is one of the leading users of social media in diabetes care- and writes a monthly blog for the British Medical Journal.
He has been:
*Co-creator of TAD (Talking About Diabetes) – TED talks from those with T1Diabetes
*Co- creator of Type 1 Diabetes comic (Volume 1 to 5)
*Co-creator of DEVICES (Virtual Reality educational modules in diabetes)

He has been recognised as one of the most influential figures from the ethnic minority population across healthcare in the UK by the Healthcare Service Journal in 2020,2021, 2022 & 2023
He received an OBE for services to Diabetes care in 2021

Richard J. Auchus, MD, PhD

Dr. Auchus is the James A. Shayman and Andrea S. Kevrick Professor of Translational Medicine in the Departments of Pharmacology and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan. He also serves as Chief of the Endocrinology Section at the LTC Charles S. Kettles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Dr. Auchus and his group are active in a wide range of research projects, including basic biochemical principles and structural biology of steroid biosynthetic enzymes, comprehensive steroid mass spectrometry analysis, and clinical trials and translational investigation in disorders of the pituitary, adrenal, ovaries, and testes that cause hypertension, infertility, and obesity. His clinical interests also focus on pituitary, adrenal, and reproductive diseases that involve disorders of steroid production, and he is particularly interested in the care of adults with genetic disorders of steroid biosynthesis and action. He has authored more than 350 journal articles and 40 book chapters, and he has lectured in a wide range of national and international conferences. He was elected to the Association of American Physicians in 2018 and was chosen to deliver the Lawson Wilkins Lecture for the Pediatric Endocrine Society in 2022. He received the Frontiers in Science & Distinction in Endocrinology Award from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology in 2023 and was the 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Clinical Investigator Award from the Endocrine Society.

Rayaz A. Malik, BSc. (Hons), MSc., MB ChB, PhD, FRCP

Rayaz Malik graduated in Medicine from the University of Aberdeen in 1991, obtained his MRCP (London) in 1996, PhD from the University of Manchester in 1997 and FRCP in 2007.

He was appointed as Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and Senior Consultant Physician in Hamad General Hospital in 2014.

Expertscape- the world’s leading index of academic achievement and expertise in healthcare ranked him 2nd (UK) and 7th (World) most influential researcher on diabetes complications.

Research.com ranked him the number 1 researcher in Medicine in Qatar in 2023 and 2024.

He has published 530 peer reviewed papers and his H-index=93; citations= 22,559.

Shehzad Basaria, M.D.

Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Associate Director, Section on Men's Health, Aging & Metabolism
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Dr. Basaria is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Director of the Section of Men's Health, Aging and Metabolism at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. His expertise is in the field of Male Reproduction. His research focuses on understanding cardiometabolic complications of androgen deprivation therapy in men with prostate cancer and efficacy of testosterone replacement in men with opioid-induced androgen deficiency and cancer-related fatigue. He also provides clinical care to patients with reproductive disorders.

Seema Kumar

Dr. Seema Kumar is Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She is the Chair of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology. She also serves as the program director of the Pediatric Endocrinology fellowship program at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine and the Associate Chair of Faculty and Leadership Development in the Department of Pediatrics at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Kumar completed her medical school at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India and completed her pediatric residency and fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine.

Dr. Kumar is the medical director of the Pediatric Weight Management Program and the Adolescent Bariatric Program at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Dr. Kumar has over 120 peer reviewed publications in national and international journals and she is the Associate Editor for the Journal Obesity. She has been the primary investigator for several clinical trials for children with obesity. She is the past chair of the data monitoring committee and member of the governance board of POWER, a multicenter pediatric obesity registry in the United States Dr. Kumar’s interests include the treatment of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes and related cardiometabolic risk factors.